Industry Investigation Prompts
Prompt #1: Before starting my internship at Shields MRI, I believed the office would be run as more of a rushed environment. Currently, many offices run very quickly and have time as their first priority. After my first week at Shields, I really enjoyed the warm and welcoming environment. The patient's needs are always a first priority, and employees spend as much time as needed to meet a patient's needs.
Prompt #4: The general employee attitude at Shields is quite positive. Everyone in the office is driven by the desire to make patients feel comfortable and welcomed. The front desk employees are kind to people checking in. They are the first people that patients see, so they want to provide a good impression of the practice. The MRI technicians work hard to make the patients comfortable during their scan and answer patient questions. The radiologists do not have a lot of patient contact, but they are nice and respectful when talking with patients. There is much admiration for people working in the medical field. Everyone in the office has been very welcoming to me and have treated me with respect, as they would of other co-workers.
Prompt #6: The general public's knowledge about my industry is fairly small. I would say most people know little about how MRI machines run. Many patients who come in for appointments ask me if the MRI gives off radiation or if the MRI machine is dangerous. I always reassure them that MRIs give off zero radiation and are quite safe. This tells me that most people know little about MRIs. People who are not in the MRI or a different medical industry tend to have respect and admiration for radiologists and other doctors in these skilled professions. Similarly, those who work alongside doctors gain an appreciation for the hard work and long hours these people put into their jobs. Overall, people inside and outside of the medical industry perceive it similarly.
Prompt #7: The goal of the MRI industry is to identify a patient's injury, which is the start of the recovery process. During the first few weeks at my internship, I have had interactions with everyone that works in the office. Each person has their own goal. The secretaries' goal is to make the patients comfortable and prepared for their appointments. The MRI technicians' goal is to get the patient's MRI done quickly, as to not interrupt their day, and to format the pictures so the radiologist can read and interpret their pictures. The radiologist's goal is to read and diagnose, when necessary, any injuries they see on pictures from the MRI. Each person who works in the MRI industry has a goal or goals that are centered around patient care.
Prompt #9: To be an employee at Shields is to be part of a work family. All of my co-workers are very friendly and helpful. I also feel very privileged to be trusted with medical information and given responsibilities related to this information. I have been fortunate enough to be able to comfort patients before and sometimes during their MRIs and arthrograms. Being someone who frequently checks in patients, I am also able to answer specific questions regarding their procedures.
Promt #10: At my internship site I usually do some front desk work, mixed in among other things, everyday. I am always at the front desk with Val. She inspires me, because she always puts a patient's needs first. Val frequently does extra work to make patients feel comfortable for their MRIs. I am inspired by her, because watching her everyday has made me better with my patient interactions. I admire Val for the hard work she puts into her job, and I have much appreciation for everything she has taught me.
Prompt #11: The MRI and other medical industries do not have much play involved, as they are quite serious and highly respected. In my experience at Shields, the play that does go in is small and usually is for patient's comfort. Most of the employees use humor as a way to lessen tension and relax patients. Especially with children, the play that occurs is for their benefit. If a younger child is having an arthrogram, their parents are not allowed into the room. So, the MRI technician, radiology assistant, and radiologist try to make the patient more comfortable by telling jokes and stories, as a way to get the patient's mind off of the procedure. What I have found is the play that goes on in the office is productive and most always for the patient's benefit.
Prompt #12: Lunchtime is one of the most exciting times of the day for most of the employees at Shields. It is a time to sit and take a break from the fast paced work environment. There is not one specific time each day dedicated to lunch. Some people eat while they work, and others take breaks as long as their partner can cover their work. The employees usually eat by themselves, as their coworkers are covering for them while they're gone. The lunchtime routines at Shields reflect the MRI and most medical jobs as fast paced and continuous. The office sees a large patient base each day and has to stay on time. There is time for lunch, but not much time for socializing.
Prompt #18: The night before starting my internship I was very eager to jump in and start learning more about the MRI and medical industries. I had many preconceptions about what my experience would be like; some turned out true and others did not. Leaving my internship after two months, I am quite pleased with the amazing experience I had. I learned so much more than I ever thought I would, and I've definitely made good friends with many of my co-workers! My favorite experiences would be observing a multitude of arthrograms, including hips, shoulders, wrists, and elbows, and sitting down with the onsite radiologist who taught me so much in terms of anatomy in the ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, wrist, cervical, thoracic and lumbar spines, and most interesting for me, the brain. I got much more out of my internship than I ever imagined, and it has reaffirmed my thoughts that I want to pursue a career in the healthcare field!
Prompt #4: The general employee attitude at Shields is quite positive. Everyone in the office is driven by the desire to make patients feel comfortable and welcomed. The front desk employees are kind to people checking in. They are the first people that patients see, so they want to provide a good impression of the practice. The MRI technicians work hard to make the patients comfortable during their scan and answer patient questions. The radiologists do not have a lot of patient contact, but they are nice and respectful when talking with patients. There is much admiration for people working in the medical field. Everyone in the office has been very welcoming to me and have treated me with respect, as they would of other co-workers.
Prompt #6: The general public's knowledge about my industry is fairly small. I would say most people know little about how MRI machines run. Many patients who come in for appointments ask me if the MRI gives off radiation or if the MRI machine is dangerous. I always reassure them that MRIs give off zero radiation and are quite safe. This tells me that most people know little about MRIs. People who are not in the MRI or a different medical industry tend to have respect and admiration for radiologists and other doctors in these skilled professions. Similarly, those who work alongside doctors gain an appreciation for the hard work and long hours these people put into their jobs. Overall, people inside and outside of the medical industry perceive it similarly.
Prompt #7: The goal of the MRI industry is to identify a patient's injury, which is the start of the recovery process. During the first few weeks at my internship, I have had interactions with everyone that works in the office. Each person has their own goal. The secretaries' goal is to make the patients comfortable and prepared for their appointments. The MRI technicians' goal is to get the patient's MRI done quickly, as to not interrupt their day, and to format the pictures so the radiologist can read and interpret their pictures. The radiologist's goal is to read and diagnose, when necessary, any injuries they see on pictures from the MRI. Each person who works in the MRI industry has a goal or goals that are centered around patient care.
Prompt #9: To be an employee at Shields is to be part of a work family. All of my co-workers are very friendly and helpful. I also feel very privileged to be trusted with medical information and given responsibilities related to this information. I have been fortunate enough to be able to comfort patients before and sometimes during their MRIs and arthrograms. Being someone who frequently checks in patients, I am also able to answer specific questions regarding their procedures.
Promt #10: At my internship site I usually do some front desk work, mixed in among other things, everyday. I am always at the front desk with Val. She inspires me, because she always puts a patient's needs first. Val frequently does extra work to make patients feel comfortable for their MRIs. I am inspired by her, because watching her everyday has made me better with my patient interactions. I admire Val for the hard work she puts into her job, and I have much appreciation for everything she has taught me.
Prompt #11: The MRI and other medical industries do not have much play involved, as they are quite serious and highly respected. In my experience at Shields, the play that does go in is small and usually is for patient's comfort. Most of the employees use humor as a way to lessen tension and relax patients. Especially with children, the play that occurs is for their benefit. If a younger child is having an arthrogram, their parents are not allowed into the room. So, the MRI technician, radiology assistant, and radiologist try to make the patient more comfortable by telling jokes and stories, as a way to get the patient's mind off of the procedure. What I have found is the play that goes on in the office is productive and most always for the patient's benefit.
Prompt #12: Lunchtime is one of the most exciting times of the day for most of the employees at Shields. It is a time to sit and take a break from the fast paced work environment. There is not one specific time each day dedicated to lunch. Some people eat while they work, and others take breaks as long as their partner can cover their work. The employees usually eat by themselves, as their coworkers are covering for them while they're gone. The lunchtime routines at Shields reflect the MRI and most medical jobs as fast paced and continuous. The office sees a large patient base each day and has to stay on time. There is time for lunch, but not much time for socializing.
Prompt #18: The night before starting my internship I was very eager to jump in and start learning more about the MRI and medical industries. I had many preconceptions about what my experience would be like; some turned out true and others did not. Leaving my internship after two months, I am quite pleased with the amazing experience I had. I learned so much more than I ever thought I would, and I've definitely made good friends with many of my co-workers! My favorite experiences would be observing a multitude of arthrograms, including hips, shoulders, wrists, and elbows, and sitting down with the onsite radiologist who taught me so much in terms of anatomy in the ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, wrist, cervical, thoracic and lumbar spines, and most interesting for me, the brain. I got much more out of my internship than I ever imagined, and it has reaffirmed my thoughts that I want to pursue a career in the healthcare field!